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Brenda Joyce Cooley, 79, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Johnson City Medical Center. Brenda was born in Princeton, W.Va., to the late Joseph Robert French and Vivian Miner Belcher. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Edsel French, Thomas Allen French, John Neal French, Bettilee Sarandos and Ann Crawford; and two grandchildren, Quentin Cooley and Brooke Lauryn Stine.

Brenda had a servant’s heart, was outgoing and never did anything halfway. She was a fierce supporter of the military, especially her sons that had served. Along with her heart, she had a soft spot for the elderly. Brenda was a breast cancer survivor.

Brenda was a 15-year member of Siam Baptist Church and loved going when her health permitted it. She loved the Lord and was a fine Christian lady in all respects. She was baptized by Adrian Rogers at Parkview Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, Fla.  

She had worked as a paralegal and provided assistance to Judge Bowers. She had played baseball in high school and hit a grand slam out at the field, earning the nickname, “Slugger”.    She loved collecting cast iron and angels, being outdoors, gardening, cutting the grass, cooking, canning and fishing.  

Those left to cherish and remember Brenda include her husband, David Cooley; her daughter, Rhonda (John) Stine of Palm Bay, Fla.; her sons, Michael (Susan) Cooley of Blountville and Tyler (Cara) Cooley of Knoxville, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Brenda’s life will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, April 22, in the Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Jack Roddy officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel between the hours of 6 and 7 p.m. Monday, prior to the service. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations in memory of Brenda to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by visiting their website at https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/memorial-giving/ or by mail at 13770 Noel Road, Suite 801889, Dallas, Texas 75380. Words of comfort may be sent to the family and viewed by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.

Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is honored to serve the Cooley family. Office: (423) 542-2232.